Jewish Family Service-volunteer

Volunteer for Jewish Family Service

We rely on volunteers to supplement our staff and limited resources and help sustain our work in the community. We appreciate the dedication, time, talent and enthusiasm of our volunteers – You are a vital part of the Jewish Family Service programs.

To volunteer, contact Fran Gafvert, Director of Volunteer Programs:call 513-469-1188 or email fgafvert@jfscinti.org

Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project
Cincinnati Hunger Assistance Initiative (CHAI)
Senior Service Volunteers
Administrative Support
Youth and Teen Opportunities
Resettlement and Acculturation Program

Volunteer Programs
Cincinnati Hunger Assistance Initiative (CHAI)

JFS needs volunteers for the following opportunities that support people with food assistance needs. Volunteers play an essential role in fund-raising, food collection and purchasing, sorting, food distribution and delivery.

Centerpiece for Tzedakah
This project raises funds for the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry. Volunteers assemble decorative baskets filled with kosher food and personal care item packages to be used as centerpieces at bar/bat mitzvahs, showers, anniversary parties or other festive occasions. Volunteers are also needed to process and track orders.
Commitment: As needed, 2-4 hours per month.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry
In conjunction with the Cincinnati Free Store/Food Bank, Jewish Family Service is launching the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry for
those needing supplemental kosher food in the Jewish community. Volunteers help with food purchasing, collecting, shelving, bagging, delivering and distributing.
Commitment: 2-4 hours per month.

Holiday Delivery Projects
Volunteers help organize, assemble and deliver special boxes containing food and essentials for holiday celebrations. One of the most successful holiday events is Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project, which delivers the ingredients for a Passover Seder to area Jewish families in need.
Commitment: Varies with type of job.

Senior Service Volunteers
We help isolated senior adults maintain contact with the Jewish community through the loving attention of our Visiting Volunteers.

Visits might include reading books or magazines, conversing, taking a stroll, playing games or cards, writing letters, organizing photos, alphabetizing phone numbers and addresses, leading prayer, celebrating a Jewish holiday or Shabbat, or recording a personal history.

Isolated seniors thrive on personal visits and daily telephone calls; caring and meaningful relationships reduce the risk of depression and enhance the quality of life.

Friendly Visitor (Bikur Cholim Project)
Volunteers visit individuals at home, in assisted-living or long-term care facilities, in hospitals or in hospice. Visit older adults in their homes to provide companionship and a needed break for caregivers.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individuals

Friendly Connection (Merkaz Yad L’Dorot)
Volunteers visit Holocaust survivors at home on a regular basis. Volunteers may also attend activities such as Friendship Club meetings or cultural/social events with individuals.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individual

Wings on Wheels (Volunteer Transportation Program) Volunteers drive homebound individuals to places they might not otherwise be able to go such as grocery store, doctor’s office, shopping and JFS.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individuals

Chore Corp Throughout the year, JFS arranges special projects to help seniors, low-income families, or people with disabilities. Volunteers help with yard clean up, raking leaves, cleaning windows, tidying up basements, or help with daily chores.
Commitment: 2-4 hours, several times a year

Administrative Support
Babysitter
Volunteers provide babysitting for children while their parents meet in group sessions or educational classes at Adoption Connection and Alan R. Mack Center. Daytime and evening hours.
Commitment: 2 hours – once or twice per month

Brochure Distribution
Volunteers maintain supply of informational packets or brochures for various departments. Distribute packets and flyers to doctors, dentists, libraries.
Commitment: 1-2 hour shifts, 10:00 to 5:00, Monday-Friday

Clerical and Administrative Support
Volunteers provide needed clerical support to various programs and departments. Commitments vary and duties can include answering the phone, stuffing envelopes for a mailing, typing, filing, copying and entering data.
Commitment: 2 to 3 hour shift as needed

Special Talents and Skills
Volunteer Programs maintains a Talents/Skills Bank for special skills such as carpentry, electrical work, photography, art, calligraphy, sewing, professional marketing, etc.
Commitment: As needed

Youth and Teen Opportunities

Pre-School Through B’nai Mitzvah Opportunities
These activities are available for religious school group projects. Plan to have a teacher and other adult volunteers working with the children for these opportunities.

Student Bikhur Cholim Volunteers
The younger children visit with senior adults in a day care or residential home setting. This can be arranged as a field trip during religious school hours or at another time. Children create craft projects with the senior residents. Music programs can be arranged utilizing your volunteer music resources if available.
Commitment: 3-4 hours per event

Holiday Delivery Volunteers
At various times of the year, students will have the opportunity to create holiday gift items for delivery to isolated seniors in need of some holiday cheer. Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project is an example of a holiday program that involves the handiwork of many small children and the support of adults for supervision and delivery.
Commitment: varies with task

B’nai Mitzvah and Teen Opportunities

Teen Bikur Cholim Volunteer
Teens visit with older adults individually or in a group for sharing conversation/experience, Shabbat and holiday gift sharing. Visits can take place in nursing homes, residential communities and individual homes.
Commitment: 2-4 hours per month, ongoing

Teen Mitzvah Corp
Throughout the year, JFS arranges special projects to help seniors, low-income families, or people with disabilities. Teen volunteers help with yard clean up, raking leaves, sorting attic, garage and basement items, or helping with daily chores.
Commitment: 2-4 hours, several times a year

Family Opportunities (All Ages)

Resettlement and Acculturation Program
While the Resettlement and Acculturation Program is funded through the Jewish Federation’s Project Exodus, JFS is the social service agency that administers this program and attends to integrating émigrés from the former Soviet Union into their new community. Speaking Russian is not always a requirement but is helpful.

Cincinnati Tour Guide
Volunteers introduce new émigrés to Cincinnati by following a specific tour of the city and utilizing a tape recorded in Russian and in English.
Commitment: Minimum 2 hours - as needed

Friend of the Family
Volunteers serve as mentors by befriending Russian families new to America to acclimate them to their new environment and new cultural experiences. Participate in fun outings, visits and regular phone calls.
Commitment: 1-2 hours weekly for at least 6 months

Resettlement and Acculturation Program

While the Resettlement and Acculturation Program is funded through the Jewish Federation’s Project Exodus, JFS is the social service agency that administers this program and attends to integrating the émigrés from the former Soviet Union into their new community. Speaking Russian is not a requirement but may be helpful.

Cincinnati Tour Guide
Volunteers introduce new émigrés to Cincinnati by following a specific tour of the city and utilizing a tape recorded in Russian and English.
Commitment: 2 hours - as needed

Friend of the Family
Volunteers serve as mentors by befriending families new to America to acclimate them to the environment and new cultural experiences. Commitment: 1-2 hours weekly for at least 6 months

Transportation
Volunteers drive individuals to places they might not otherwise be able to go such as grocery store, doctor’s office, shopping, human services and license bureau, etc.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individuals

Tutor
Volunteers assist in English as a Second Language classes or provide individual English tutoring in the home. May assist in preparing New Americans for the U.S. citizenship test.
Commitment: Time agreed upon by volunteer and individual